Medications can heal AND harm.
Experts estimate medication problems to be one of the top five causes of death in the US. While some of these problems are unavoidable, many are the result of human errors which could and should be prevented. According to the US Institute of Medicine, these "medication errors" injure or kill more than 1.5 million Americans every year. That's one out of every 200 US citizens!
These statistics prove that medication problems are among our country's most significant health issues – ahead of such major concerns as diabetes, Alzheimer’s, breast cancer and AIDS.
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of this public health crisis is that these problems are not the result of some horrible disease, but rather well-intentioned efforts to improve and enhance human life!
On March 7, 2007, a California Expert Panel on Medication Errors released a report containing 12 recommendations on how these errors could be addressed in the community setting. A key theme in the report is the critical role of consumers in preventing many of these errors. The Pharmacy Foundation of California has recently adopted a strategic plan which focuses many of its activities on consumer education about the safe use of medications. You can support this work by clicking here to make a tax-deductible donation.
The Pharmacy Foundation of California was founded in 1977 by the California Pharmacists Association. As a 501(c)(3), non-profit, public benefit corporation, The Foundation seeks to improve and protect public health by using research and education to promote the safe and effective use of medications. More information about the Foundation is available here.
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